Opinion
Column

Bravo to the New York Times for standing up to Donald Trump

The world has long been captivated by U.S. presidential elections. Beyond the sheer spectacle of it all, they are a very public exercise in democracy. American elections also have powerful political and economic impacts on countries everywhere, not least Canada. In this respect, the current race to the White House is no different.

What is different this time around is Donald Trump.

At this point, there is little need to catalogue the demeaning things Donald Trump has said during the course of his campaign about Mexicans, immigrants, African Americans, Muslims and so on. But as his campaign flails out of control only weeks before Americans go to the polls, the media has increasingly become a main target of his ire and base rhetoric.

The tipping point arrived with the leak of a 2005 recording brought to light by the Washington Post. In it, Trump boasts about being able to sexually assault women because of his fame. In the last town hall debate with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, he dismissed these comments as "locker room talk," saying he never actually assaulted women.

The New York Times then published an article in which two women accused Trump of inappropriate touching. His campaign team swiftly demanded a retraction and apology, claiming it was a libellous piece. The New York Times refused. Instead, it published a letter to Trump’s team written by VP and Assistant General Counsel David McCraw. McCraw argued that the story was of national importance:

“We did what the law allows: We published newsworthy information about a subject of deep public concern. If Mr. Trump disagrees, if he believes that American citizens had no right to hear what these women had to say and that the law of this country forces us and those who would dare to criticize him to stand silent or be punished, we welcome the opportunity to have a court set him straight.”

The Times deserves credit for its stance. Trump has consistently demonstrated a deep disrespect, even contempt for women. He seems to think you can do anything you want to a woman without her consent, particularly when you are powerful, male and moneyed. Canada’s first female prime minister, Kim Campbell, has openly called Trump a sexual predator. Michelle Obama, in a recent speech in New Hampshire, referred to him as "a powerful individual speaking freely and openly about sexually predatory behaviour.”

A growing number of women are now coming forward with allegations of unwanted sexual advances and groping by the Republican presidential candidate. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations as “pure fiction,” calling the women “horrible, horrible liars.”

In a democracy, the job of the press is to challenge and question, to educate and inform debate, and to expose abuses of power, lies and inequality. This responsibility extends far beyond matters of national importance to Americans.

Trump has accused the Clinton campaign of controlling the news media, insinuating that if he loses, it’s because the outcome has been rigged.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement indicating that a Trump presidency would represent a threat to press freedom “unknown in modern history,” and not only in the United States: "The consequences for the rights of journalists around the world could be far more serious. Any failure of the United States to uphold its own standards emboldens dictators and despots to restrict the media in their own countries."

These are turbulent days. Around the world, we are seeing a rising populism, public anger and distrust of institutions. Donald Trump has tapped into this growing anti-establishment sentiment.

It is up to the American people to decide whom they will choose as president. But the world is watching. The New York Times should be commended for both holding Trump to account and holding its ground in the name of press freedom and democracy.